Crisis of Soteriology: Danger and Opportunity for Western Evangelical Evangelism in Eastern Orthodox Russia

Harris, Mark J. (2007) Crisis of Soteriology: Danger and Opportunity for Western Evangelical Evangelism in Eastern Orthodox Russia. Global Missiology, 4 (4). pp. 3-9.

Text 317-Article Text-3484-1-10-20100922.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (70kB)

Abstract

American Evangelicals have invaded Russia with the good news of the Gospel for almost all of the 1990’s. Often lost among the reports of successes are the growing crises in communication between Evangelicals and the Russian Orthodox Church – a church which has been in existence for over a thousand years. One central crisis is that the two confessions understand soteriology in very different ways. Although only a small fraction of Russians are active in Orthodox churches, the identity and tenets of Orthodoxy have had at least some influence on almost all Russians. And, in spite of the fact that many Russians have been reached for Christ by Evangelicals with no regard for Russian Orthodoxy, deep and lasting change to Russian religious thought is not likely to take place unless Evangelicals understand Russian Orthodoxy and communicate through word and deed in a way that will not be rejected outright by the Russian culture. The purpose of this short paper is to briefly introduce the central aspects of this crisis, and then offer a few perspectives on how the dangers can lead to opportunities for fruitful evangelistic work in Russia. I will first contrast Orthodox and Evangelical soteriology, then list what I perceive as the major dangers and opportunities that arise out of the battle between the contrasting confessions.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Also published in Global Missiology, vol 3, iss 2, 2005; http://ojs.globalmissiology.org/index.php/english/article/view/82
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Soteriology,
Subjects:	B Mission theology/theory > Evangelism/Proclamation of Gospel B Mission theology/theory > Contextualization/Inculturation D World Christianity and Central Eastern Europe > Europe G Christian traditions/Denominations > Eastern Orthodox G Christian traditions/Denominations > Evangelical
Divisions:	Former Soviet Union Former Soviet Union > Russian Federation
Depositing User:	Speranca Tomin
Date Deposited:	21 Sep 2021 14:41
Last Modified:	21 Sep 2021 14:47
URI:	https://ceeamsprints.osims.org/id/eprint/2035

Actions (login required)

View Item